Hello Tribe fans everywhere!

I knew Cliff Lee was a much better pitcher than what he showed last season -- a year marred by injury -- but who knew he was this good? Lee hurled 7 shutout innings against the Yankees last night, leading the Indians to their second straight win over the Bronx Bombers. It was the latest in a string of excellent starts, and Lee, named April's "Pitcher of the Month," is 6-0 with an 0.81 earned run average.

It shows you how important confidence is -- especially for a major league athlete. Lee, who averaged 16 wins per season from 2004-06, was a former All-Star who clearly knew how to pitch. But it all fell apart a year ago after he suffered an injury in spring training. When he finally returned to the rotation, the southpaw couldn't keep the ball down, and hitters were murdering him. Lee grew so frustrated that, after beaning Sammy Sosa, he tangled publicly -- not once, but twice -- with Tribe catcher Victor Martinez.

Lee was sent to the minors shortly after the incident. It was a bitter experience for the veteran, and he did not take the demotion well. Indians officials played hardball with him, too, by failing to promote him until the end of the regular season, and then by leaving him off the post-season roster.

Some observers, myself included, felt the Indians treated Lee way too harshly. After the season, he was so damaged he no longer had significant value as trade bait.

As it turned out, the Indians were fortunate they didn't deal Lee. He's been one of the club's few bright spots this season and is the main reason why, despite their rocky start, the Indians stand just one game out of first place today in the A.L. Central Division.

Lee was always a good guy during his numerous visits to Erie, and it's gratifying to see him pitching well again. Hope he keeps it up.

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The answer to yesterday's quickie quiz is: No, Jhonny Peralta is not a college graduate, although he did attend Collejo Pedagojico in Santiago in the Domincan Republic.

Today's quiz: Name the big league club that originally signed Cliff Lee.

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-- Kevin Cuneo